If you’re a motor carrier, you probably work with owner-operators. They’re an essential part of the trucking world. (You could even say that they’re a cog in the machine that keeps the transportation industry running smoothly.) But though they make the world go round, owner-operators can be an issue for you as a motor carrier if they start affecting your insurance rates. The questions are why they can negatively impact your rates and what you should consider when you partner with owner-operators.
Transportation
If your business is a part of the transportation industry, you know how hard it can be to get the right insurance to protect you. There are plenty of risks that you face every day on the road. When you send out your trucks you need to know that they’re protected with the right insurance coverage. Here at InsuranceHub, we specialize in transportation insurance. We’ll help you manage your risks and customize an insurance plan that fulfills all of your company’s needs.
We’ve dedicated a section of our blog to transportation-related articles to help you protect everything you’ve worked so hard to build. Feel free to click through and read at your leisure. We enjoy passing along insurance information and safety tips that will help transportation companies just like yours be prepared. Armed with knowledge and a great insurance plan, you’ll be able to hit the road with confidence.
What is the Unsafe Driving BASIC?
When it comes to driving a commercial motor vehicle, it’s important to operate the vehicle in the safest manner possible. Drivers need to be very careful as they drive, as the FMCSA takes safety seriously. There are seven categories called the BASICs (Behavioral Analysis and Safety Improvement Category). One of those BASICs is called the Unsafe Driving BASIC, and it’s definitely a very important one. We’ll explain what this BASIC covers and how you can improve.
How to improve in the Vehicle Maintenance BASIC
The trucking world comes with a lot of regulations, especially when it comes to maintaining the truck itself. You and your drivers need to make sure you’re taking care of your vehicles and following all relevant federal regulations. There is even an FMCSA BASIC Category (Behavioral Analysis and Safety Improvement Category) called Vehicle Maintenance. We’re going to go over what the Vehicle Maintenance BASIC is and how you can improve in this category.
Your DOT Number matters
Truck businesses with clean loss records might wonder why their insurance costs so much. Maybe there aren’t any speeding tickets accidents on your record, but you’re still seeing rates that are higher than what they could be. Your DOT Number might be the reason why. Your business’s DOT Number keeps track of violations you have received, which can hurt your insurance situation. Your DOT Number has a big effect on your insurance rates.
Attending the Slow Down, Move Over rally in Alabama
At the invitation of Wes Passmore, operator of Classic Towing and Recovery, I attended the Slow Down, Move Over rally in Hueytown, Alabama. The rally was held to bring awareness to the dangers of being a tow operator on the side of the road in traffic. Though there are state laws requiring drivers to slow down and move over for emergency vehicles, plenty of drivers don’t. That results in tow operators getting injured and even killed while they’re working on the side of the road.
Women in trucking: How can you hire more women truck drivers?
The trucking industry has been facing a truck driver shortage, and some have proposed that hiring more women could be part of the solution to the problem. But despite the fact that there’s definitely room for more women in trucking, it can be difficult to persuade more women to become truck drivers. We’ll go over some of the obstacles that prevent women from entering the industry, and we’ll also go over some tips for truck companies to keep in mind if they want to hire more women.
New venture doesn’t mean new driver
I have been writing transportation insurance for quite a while and one of the things that I hear most from my customers is, “Why is the premium so high when I am not a new driver?” Great question. There isn’t a clear answer though. You will find that the world of trucking insurance can feel cruel toward you and your business, whether you are starting out or have had a trucking business in the past and are now returning. Sometimes life happens and we must move with it. Tough decisions need to be made.
10 things tow truck drivers want their customers to know
Tow truck drivers have a tough time – not just because of the dangers of assisting others, but because of the lack of widespread knowledge about their trade. Therefore, we took to Reddit to ask the towing community what they want customers to know. We’ve gathered 10 of the most important tips that tow truck drivers want customers to know for their tow to go speedily, safely, and smoothly.
Understanding the CSA in trucking
If you’re a trucking business, you know that there are a lot of regulations you need to follow – and a lot of organizations and programs you need to know about. Safety is a big deal, and there are many oversights and organizations that oversee safety for motor carriers and commercial vehicles. If you feel that all of this is overwhelming, don’t worry – you’re not alone. One organization that you might be wondering about is the CSA. We’re put together a few frequently asked questions about the CSA to help break it down.
2 tools to help with hooking up a car for a tow
As a tow truck operator, you’ve seen a lot of cars and sticky situations. But sometimes, there’s a driver with a car model that you’re not too familiar with. You don’t want to risk damaging the car, but you also don’t want to leave a customer out to dry. Luckily, there’s an app for everything these days, including ones to help you tow any car the right way. Here are some towing resources that offer a quick guide on where to hook a car.